Resident attitudes, place attachment and destination branding: a research framework

Abstract

Purpose -This paper aims to propose a new line of research that explores the relationship between residents and destination brand building behaviours through the concept of place attachment. Design and methodology -We conducted a literature review on place attachment and brand building behaviour, and focused more specifically on place identity as an accumulation based dimension of place attachment and word-of-mouth as a behavioural outcome. Approach -With the emergence of new technologies, tourism managers no longer have a complete control over the development of destination brand, since various communication tools enable for residents to engage in the destination branding process. This calls for rethinking the role of residents in destination branding and the necessity to explore various place attachment dimensions and their outcomes. Findings -This study proposes a conceptual framework to understand the role of residents in the construction of the image of their place of residence as a tourism destination. Within this framework, we suggested that place satisfaction may affect residents' internalisation process, contributing to residents' behavioural output process, resulting in positive word-of-mouth, participation in tourism activities, and demonstration of destination ambassador behaviour. Originality -Despite the wide interest of researchers in human-place relationship, few studies have focused on residents' place attachment and its outcomes. This framework suggests that it is important to understanding how residents form place attachment; how they perceive their place of residence as a tourism destination, and what they communicate in order to create positive destination image and strong destination brand.

The Influence of Place Attachment on Social Distance: Examining Mediating Effects of Emotional Solidarity and the Moderating Role of Interaction

“…As of late, place attachment has gained traction within the field of travel and tourism, in explaining the rationale for people’s preferences for a destination (e.g., Hwang, Lee, and Chen 2005; Gross and Brown 2008) as well as place branding (Chen and Dwyer 2017; Chen and Šegota 2015), and destination loyalty (Patwardhan et al 2019). The early research on place attachment in tourism, which began in the 1980s, was largely exploratory in nature, followed by identification of typologies and measurements (e.g., Hwang, Lee, and Chen 2005).…”

A tourism inflex: Generation Z travel experiences

“…Eventually, this will influence the sort of experience that the traveller has. However, a destination is not just a geographical unit but is also subject to people's judgement and evaluation (Chen and Šegota, 2015). Implied are not only the evident physical features but, also the abstract and subjective psychological elements as perceived by the tourist.…”

Explaining residents' attitudes towards tourism and tourists: A new approach based on brand theory

“…Brand identification also relates to the notions of “relationship to place” and “place attachment,” as defined by Chen and Šegota (). On the one hand, “relationship to place refers to the different ways that people relate to places, or the types of bonds people can have with a place” (Chen & Šegota, , p. 145).…”

“…Brand identification also relates to the notions of “relationship to place” and “place attachment,” as defined by Chen and Šegota (). On the one hand, “relationship to place refers to the different ways that people relate to places, or the types of bonds people can have with a place” (Chen & Šegota, , p. 145). Relationship to place is usually created instantaneously and often impossible to alter (e.g., one cannot change his or her birthplace or cannot easily alter the place where he/she settles down—even if it is not the birth place—due to work or family ties).…”

“…Brand identification also relates to the notions of "relationship to place" and "place attachment," as defined by Chen and Šegota (2015).…”